628 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
detention should get the right to vote. ( Interruption ) . Most of them will get, but some will not. If you are keen that every person who is under detention shall get an opportunity to vote...
Shri J. R. Kapoor: So far as is physically possible.
Dr. Ambedkar: ………that purpose is not going to be carried out. There are some people who are bound to be omitted. And it is perfectly possible, so far as I can imagine, that the number of people who may be sent under preventive detention after or just nearer the time when the polling takes place may be much larger than before. I do not want to anticipate anything, but my fear is that this sort of thing may happen. Therefore you are really not making a provision which is, shall I say, either fool-proof or knave-proof. ( Interruption ) . This matter really has ben raised without reference to the clause. This matter can arise only under clause 61 because there is a specific provision in sub-clause (5) of it. It cannot come under clause 59. Sub-clause (5) of clause 61 says that “No person shall vote at any election if he is confined in a prison, whether under a sentence of imprisonment or transportation or otherwise, or is in the lawful custody of the police, or is subjected to preventive detention...”. Therefore, if any amendment is to be made, it must be made to subclause (5) of clause 61. I think this matter is quite outside the scope of clause 59.
Shri Sidhva: If we pass it, it will go under 61.
Dr. Ambedkar : How can we pass it now ? I have told you what difficulty is likely to arise, If notwithstanding it you want it to be done, it is a different matter. It is not a matter of conscience with anybody. I do not know what arrangements Government can make.
Shri Bharati (Madras) : One difficulty is that some of them may be illiterates.
An Hon. Member: They are too literate !
Dr. Ambedkar: I have only pointed out the administrative difficultives. If supposing for instance there is a very large